Riverfest Express festival to bring carnival, live music, car show to downtown South Elgin this weekend

South Elgin's Riverfest Express festival runs from Friday to Sunday at Panton Mill Park, along the Fox River. Visitors can expect carnival rides, food, fireworks, a car show, and live music. (Village of South Elgin / HANDOUT)

Carnival rides, fireworks, a two-day car show, and live music will gather in downtown South Elgin this weekend for the village’s signature event of the summer, the Riverfest Express festival.

First started in 1997 to commemorate South Elgin’s centennial, Riverfest returns for a 22nd year to Panton Mill Park, across the street from Village Hall. Riverfest Express runs from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

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“It started as a way to bring people together, it has remained that way all these years later,” said Craig Pierce, spokesperson for the Village of South Elgin. "It’s almost like a reunion. They see friends and neighbors, they see old classmates. It has a very small town feel to it, and surrounding it with the live music and excitement, it turns the clock back a bit.”

A dozen live acts will perform throughout the weekend, including Def Leppard cover band Photograph, rock/blues band The Shoop Dogs, and country band Smokin Gunz. Pierce said the lineup this year is varied in genre, with rock, country, blues and more represented.

This may be the final year bands play on a temporary soundstage, as plans are to have a permanent band shell at Panton Mill Park next year, Pierce said. The project is part of the proposed renovation of the downtown park and the Panton Mill Station apartments building, opening later this year.

Once again, JP Car Shows will host a two-day car show in the parking space directly south of Village Hill. John Pullaro, president of JP Car Shows, said it is the third year the show stretches Saturday and Sunday.

Each day will have a different lineup of vehicles, with a combined 180 to 230 cars expected during the two days, said Pullaro. Car owners can register their vehicles between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; registration fee is $15 per entry per day.

The car show will run from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on both days, with awards handed out at 3:30 p.m. on both days. Pullaro said the cars can vary from old classics to newer models, although most cars tend to be from the 1950s and 1960s.

Pullaro estimated that 2,000 cars have been displayed at the show since its first arrival at Riverfest Express in 2000.

“(Riverfest’s) value is not only to help the vendors, but to get a lot of people to participate in it,” he said. "They really enjoy being a part of it.”

The Village also recommends Riverfest visitors to stop at the nearby Fox Valley Trolley Museum and enjoy an antique trolley ride along the Fox River. The museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. While admission to the museum grounds is free, trolley rides do require paying a fare. More information can be found on foxtrolley.org.

Pierce said there will be 35 vendors in the craft/small business expo, 10 food vendors and a beer and wine tent. The list of local food vendors include Village Tavern, Rosati’s, and South Elgin Dairy Queen. Regional favorites setting up at Riverfest include Hermes Popcorn, based out of northwestern Illinois; Norridge-based Rex Italian Foods; and Forest Park-based Lee’s Concessions.

A fireworks show is set for 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Pierce said Saturday night’s musical headliner will pause for the fireworks.

Carnival games will run from 5-11 p.m. Friday, 1-10:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1-9 p.m. Sunday. Three-day, unlimited-ride wristbands can be bought at Riverfest for $75. One-day, unlimited-ride wristbands for Saturday or Sunday can be bought at the festival for $25, but these one-day passes are only valid from 1-5 p.m.